Being “SMART” About Treatment Approaches to Harm Reduction

This presentation helps participants understand the SMART recovery approach to behavioral change, which includes: building and maintaining the motivation to change; coping with urges to use; managing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in an effective way without addictive behaviors; and living a balanced, positive, and healthy life. It also addresses “stigmatizing the stigmatized” by helping participants evaluate their own entrenched views about abstinence so that counselors can be prepared to center therapy on the client without internal bias regarding where a client may stand with regard to abstinence. Interactive discussions about “feelings of giving up” when moving away from “abstinence only” programming will provide participants an opportunity to hear about their colleagues’ changing attitudes.”